Optometrist (Low Vision)

Summary

The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center is looking for a highly skilled Blind Rehabilitation Optometrist to join their team and serve veterans and their families.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME). Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory. CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification). Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided. Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting. Function or Scope of Assigned Duties: Provides routine and specialized eye care to Veterans of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Blind Rehabilitation Service/Surgery Service. Works independently within well-defined limits based on the incumbent's professional license, experience, competence, ability, and judgment Provides both inpatient and outpatient Veteran eye care assessments that include comprehensive eye examinations, diagnosis, planning, and eye care as well as consultation, recommendation of low vision aids and issuance of prosthetics items within scope of practice. Performs examination procedures necessary for general ocular examination. Documents and manages procedures necessary for rehabilitative management of less common vision defects such as aphakia, pseudophakia, keratoconus, glaucoma, age related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, aniseikonia, but not to include surgery. Performs procedures necessary for fitting and follow-up care of hard, gas permeable and soft contact lenses; to include the teaching of insertion, removal and care of hard/soft contact lenses. Performs examination procedures necessary for: 1) general ocular exams, 2) diagnosis, management and treatment of conditions of the visual system, including performance of primary eye care procedures rational to the treatment of conditions or diseases of the eye or eyelid. Performs fluorescein angiographic photography and also A and B scan ultrasound and ocular biometry. Interpretation of testing and specialty imaging to establish diagnosis and assist in management of vision conditions. The incumbent will be part of the interdisciplinary team attending interdisciplinary team meetings and discharge meetings to provide insight on Veterans. Work Schedule: Work schedule subject to change based on the needs of the service.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Education

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated. NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.